Volume 1 Article 8 Number 5 The Iowa Homemaker vol.1, no.5-6

1921 "The iH gh School Girls' Clothes Line", A Playlet

Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/homemaker Part of the Home Economics Commons

Recommended Citation (1921) ""The iH gh School Girls' Clothes Line", A Playlet," The Iowa Homemaker: Vol. 1 : No. 5 , Article 8. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/homemaker/vol1/iss5/8

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The oI wa Homemaker by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE lOWA HOMEMAKER "The High School Girls' Clothes Line" A PLAYLET

This charming little one act playlet has been written for the use of high school girls. It is rather unique and it is easy to dramatize. If given by a group of high school girls it not only affords a delightful bit of entertainment but it teaches a better lesson in proper dressing for young girls than could be taught in almost any other way. It may be easily re­ worked to local needs. A limited or a large number of girls may take part in the play as the number of motlels used may easily be increased or some of them may be eliminated.

Stage setting- any money for movies, or anything like all I am going to get for school until Living room in comfortable home. that. after Christmas. I have some wash mid­ Characters- Geneviev,e-Qh, I can get anything I dies like yours Genevieve and this Katherine-Wool middy outfit is made out of one of Mothers. (Model Ada·-Made-over (short, stout) want, if I just tease hard enough. Genevieve-Wash middy, dark skirt Ada-I don't think that's right. That's 2) Helen- Shirtwaist and skirt Genevieve-Speaking of middies, isn't Dorothy- , plaid skirt (athletic) selfish. You get more than your share and somebody in the family gets left out. Marguerite the limit, the way she fusses Models- up. Whoever saw a sailor all decked High school girls who are fitted to take part of Genevieve--Weli, maybe it is. But out in jewelry and his spread the different models, dress according to the direc­ Dad never talks things over with us. I out and plaid . (Model 3) tions below and come on the stage at the time they don't believe Mother knows how much are spoken of. Ada-! feel differently about made No. 1. Short, stout; too small, dark dress, money he makes. We just spend all white . he'll give us. over clothes since I have a budget. How No. 2. Small, white middy, blue collar, dark Ad(lr-Do you girls remember what I do you like my dress? (Ada stands and skirt. did the first year with my allowance? I turns) No. 3. Frivolous; middy, plaid skirt, jewelry. Genevieve-Is that a made over? No. 4. Made-over dress. shall never forget how I wanted white No. 5. Tall, stout; blue tricotine one piece. kid shoes. Father said we positively Ada-Yes, and I'm proud of it. Mother No. 6. Large brilliant red dress. could not afford them. When I got my is an old peach at fixing things up. She No. 7. Tall, round shouldered; eton dress. No. 8. Frivolous ; Georgette, French heels, etc. allowance, the very first thing I bought is a regular camouflage artist. (De­ No. 9. Neat; well dressed. was the white kid shoes. I never thought scribes dress and _,.gives cost of new No. 10. Model No. 2 with . Apron over about need.ing a winter coat. When it material.) school dress. was time to get one, I didn't have any Katherine-l'm going to get busy and No. 11. Neat house dress. money left. Mother said I must keep to make some clothes for myself. It'll make No. 12. Kimona, bedroom , , etc. my allowance so I had to wear my old my money go farther. Remember that No. 13. Run-over heels; careless. military coat which was too small. No. 14. Hairdress exaggerated. old plaid kirt of mine? Well, that's No. 15. Hairdress neat, becoming. (Model 1) Do you remember? a skirt of mother's too, that got torn. No. 16. Evening dress; extravagant. Katherine-But I'll bet I can put the two together and No. 17. Short; organdy, vertical. you had your white No. 18. Tall; organdy, horizontal lines. shoes. make a dress that looks as good as yours, No. 19. White; organdy, horizontal lines. Ada-Yes, but I did not have a thing Ada. Let's find a good pattern. (Model No. 20. White voile. 4) No. 21. Colored voile. to go with them. White shoes look awful No. 22. Colored organdy. with dark dreses. Ada-l've b ~ en sewing, too. Bloom­ No. 23. Silk dress. ers. Good long ones. Warm wooly Katherine-Ada, this is the way I am ones! I'll tell you, I'm going to When the curtain goes up all five of going to start. I am to get $11.25 every the characters are on the stage. Kath­ be comfortable this winter. No more erine and Ada are seated toward the month. The first thing I bought is this freezing for me. (Lifts skirt and shows middy. How do you like it? (Kath­ bloomers) center back of the room on the daven­ erine stands and turns for inspection) port. The other girls are seated in­ Genevieve-Don't tell me you're going formally on the other chairs in the Girls-Isn't it good looking. How to wear . If you do, room. much did it cost? Mother will make me sure. Katherine-The whole $11.25, but it is Ada-I should say so. Katherine--Ada, I am to have an al­ lowance for my clothes, too. Today is the first I ever knew how much money Dad makes. His income is about $2,000 a year and there are five of us. Mother and I talked it over about my clothes for next year and I am going to do all my own planning. They are going to iive me an allowance of $135 for my clothes. Ge nevieve-~. that's ruot mucJ:I. I saw a swell winter coat marked $135 and I tried to make Dad get it for me. KaJtherine--I think it's o lot. It's really more than my share for Dad ex· plained to me all about our family budg­ et. We have just about $170 each month for everything. Our rent is $40 and mother says now we have no garden it takes nearly $60 for food. Genevie-Ve-Can't you spend all the r est for clothes? Katherine-Mercy, no! Dad says he must save $25 a month and then there's electric lig:h t bills, telephone, gas, laund­ ry, newspapers an d magazines-an awful lot of things. $35 a month is what mother plans on for clothes and that leaves only $11 for all those other bills. Honest, I don't see how Dad ever has Oskaloosa High School Girls Presenting This Little Playlet 8 THE lOWA HOMEMAKER

Katherine-We really ought to, girls. to show you my new shoes. Aren't they ing in her kimona· and breakfast cap. I was frozen all last winter only I good looking? She certainly was a scream. (Model 12) wouldn't acknowledge it. I know that Katherine-Do you like those heels? Ada--I am not surprised at Mary was why I got the "flu." H elen-You bet I do. You can walk Jones doing that, she always looks so Ada-I like bloomers anyway. I can miles without getting tired. Mr. Smith, shabby. Her shoes are run over at the climb around all I want to when I have heels and always muddy because she them on. the man, told me all about this straight last. It is the only kind of a won't wear rubbers. (Model 13) Genevieve--Have you seen Louise's school shoe. How do some girls wear Helerv-Dad is a stickler about shoes. new dress? Doesn't she look good in it? those horrid French heels? (Model 8) He says repairs and polish keep our bills She is so large and tall but you hardly Genevieve-Well, I never thought. I'd down. Shoes and dress one up realize it when she wears that dress. come to it, but I'm wearing that kind don't you think? (Model 5) and I like 'em too. Ada-Girls, I did get a coat this win­ Ada-I wonder why. Katherine-Look, everyone of us has ter. (Pause, Ada gets coat and tries it Genevieve-! guess it is because it is on the same kind of shoes. Aren't we on) How do you like it? It cost $35. dark in color, fits easy and those side getting sensible. I saved three months of my allowance pie-ces seem to add something. Wasn't last summer for it. (Gives merits in· de­ Ada-My, that's a good looking skirt, tail) that a funny story that the Helen. specialist told us about a large girl who Katherine-Let's see your new . Helen-I've hours loved to wear bright colors. It remind­ just spent pressing Ada-0 this. one? It's my last year's ed me of Ruth in her red dress. (Model it. No matter how good your clothes reblocked. (Ada gets hat) 6) are, if you don't press them they don't look right. "Well pressed is well Katherine-Let me try it on. Ada-What was it? dressed," you know. (Model 9) Dorothy enters-Hello girls, what are Genevieve-A large girl went to a Genevieve-You're right, Helen. Some you talking about? dressmaker to get a red dress made. Girls in chorus-Clothes and hats! The dressmaker said she would make girls look as if they slept in their her a pretty brown dress and trim it clothes. Mary Jones just steps out of Genevieve-That's a good looking hat with henna but she still insisted on the hers at night and they sure do look it. of yours, Dorothy. red dress. Finally the dressmaker told She doesn't have a single clothes hang­ H elerv-How would I look in Dorothy's her that nature dressed the larger ani­ er. Her Sunday dress is all out of shape. hat? It looks as if it hung on a nail the way mal in neutral colors, but the small Dorothy-You couldn't year it. dainty creatures have color to make up it is punched out in the back. H e len~Why not? for their lack of size. The elephant al­ Katherine-You have to keep them ways wears taupe while the humming clean, too. Mother says avoiding spots Dorothy-You never could get it on bird wears brilliant color. beats removing them. I always wear an over that hair. Katherine-Emma's new eton dress is apron when I am helping with the H elen-(tries to put on hat) I guess real camouflage. It covers up her round dishes. Right over my school dress. you're right. Wish I could wear a hat shoulders. The loose ja·cket and wide (Model 10-No. 2 with apron) lilce tbat. It's so pretty. fills in the hollow back. (Model 7) H elerv-I wear a house dress on Satur­ Genevieve--That's what you get by Ada-Here comes Helen.( I' never day morning. It is just great to work wearing your hair in that ridiculous could look that nice in a and in and I can answer the doorbell with­ way. Helen sits in front of me in school skirt. out being ashamed. (Model 11) and I just can't see around those huge Helerv-I heard you girls talking about Genevieve-! stayed with Mary Jones puffs. my waist. Mother doesn't allow me to last Friday night and you should have Katherine-Would you like to see the wear georgette waists. But I do want sen her trying to work Saturday morn- (Continued on page sixteen)

Practical Phases of the Love Nest By EDA LORD MURPHY, Professor of Home Economics

THE TIME: June 1921. please help me think. One of the first those things its just this. Its having to The place: The swing on the duties of the model husband is to help ask you for money. If you hadn't been 13creened porch of a cosy home. his wife plan how to spend his money! such a peach you'd have done like lots of The Girl: A girl just out of college, But my thrifty soul says we ought to men do. They congratulate themselves who has embarked on the sea of matri­ plan first how much to save. How soon because they give their wives an allow­ mony with The Young Person by her side. do you suppose we can finish paying for ance for the house! I even know men They were talking, quite seriously but the house? If nothing happens and we who think that any small house ought with gaiety. T.he topic is the perennial pay every month just as though it were to be run on $100 a month, just that is a one of housekeeping expenses. They have rent it won't take so very long will it? nice round sum and sounds ample. Poor a paper and pencil and are evidently We'll call that savings too for its the dears! Why aren't they all nice like you "figuring." best kind. .Lets write down the big and say, 'This business is a business and things we'll have to spend money for. a partnership. all the money is OURS, Friend husband exclaims, "I'm glad I Put savings first, then what we'll eat, we both earn and we both spend.' I married a glrl with so much sense. What then what we'll wear, then those grue­ don't believe many of them have a joint I don't know about housekeeping would some "operating expenses" and then with account like we do . They trust their fill a book but I don't mind learning whats left after visiting the dentist twice wives with their lives but not with their from YOU.-Jove! but you are pretty." a year we'll indulge in -our favorite books money.'' The Sweet Young Thing put her hand and music and magazines and sports. I "Let me see what you've written.'' over his mouth to stop such unvarnished almost forgot our ·church dues and at statements of obvious truths and answers least a thousand other things we'll sure­ 1. Total receipts. Salary, $2500 (does demurely, "There is no allowance in this ly want! Oh don't worry, by the time not include legacies and gifts). budget for gratuities, so hush and lets our trousseaux have worn out you'll be 2. Payments on house. get to work. First lets see just how much making 'beaucoup' money. Oh yes you we can expect to get from all sources (not will and besides didn't we promise 'for 3. Savings in bank, bonds, · etc. counting your father and mother or my better, for worse, for richer, for poorer?' 4. Food (counting everyday hospital­ father and mother or Uncle Harry or But there is just this about it, I can do ity) 0 Uncle Bob). Regard this sweet house, any amount of work and I don't mind actually furnished by our generous 5. Clothing. friends and relaives! Isn't it the pretti­ going without things but there is one est place you ever saw? Other people's thing I coludn't do, I just couldn't endure 6. Monthly items, gas ,electricity, homes don't look half so sweet do they? it! Guess? No, it isn't that I don't mind , etc. etc. Aren't we just lucky? Oh dear! Here I not having a car until we really can af­ 7. What makes life worth living­ am raving on and getting nothing done, ford it. No silly of course it isn't any of books, magazines, . flowers, music, golf, 16 THE lOWA HOMEMAKER

"THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CLOTHES LINE" +·--·--·-·--·--·--··-·-·-·-·----·-·-·-··-··- .. ..-· ... ·-·· ------(Continued from page eight) 1 silhouettes from our class party? They are a scream! Guess who this is. (Hold O'Neil's Velvet Ice Cream silhouette A) (Model 14-No. 3) Dorothy---,;Ruth. Katherine-No. Genevieve-Nell e. Katherine-No. I Ada-I bet it is Alice. i will appeal to the thoughtful Katherine-We all comb our hair alike but you are all fooled. Its me. consumer because: Dorothy- That's right, you did comb your hair with such big puffs. But it's It is made in a clean factory lots more becoming now. Why did you change? from pasturized milk a n d . . Katherine-Brother kidded me so much that I finally changed it to please I cream. him and everybody tells me they like it i better. i It is rich in food nutrients Ada- Your face is too narrow for such i I big puffs. and deliciously flavored. Katherine-Who is this? (Holding another silhouette B) l It is delivered to all parts of H elen-It's Slyvia. (Model 15) i Katherine-You are right. She­ the city. · Gen evieve-She surely combs her hair pretty. Mother said she made the best I appearance of our whole class. H elenr-I don't suppose you old critics I approve of me. Ada-Your ear bobs are too big for your face. H elen- Thank you. I O'NEIL DAIRY CO. Gen eviev e-Helen, you need not get PHONE NO. 62 peeved, it's the truth. Katherine-Let's change the subject before we scrap. I ...... I.. Dorothy-Girls, what are you going to +··-··--·-·--·-··-·-··--·-··-·--·--·-·-·--·-·-·-·-·--· wear to Mary's party? - H elen-Eloise is going to doll up in her evening . Some gown! You'd r·-·-.. -·-.. -·-·-·-.. -·-.. -·-.. -·-.. -·-·--·-·-·---·-·-·-.. -·-·r think she was a silly butterfly. (Model = 16) r Ada-I am going to wear my orange f PLUMBING SERVICE CAR i organdy. (Model 17) Dorothy-Those up and down lines do i ALWAYS READY QUICK RESPONSE ANY EMERGENCY II make you look taller and orange is so I DAY OR NIGHT good for your complexion. Ada-I do like orange for a change. I Realizing that efficiency counts in these Reconstruction days, and de- ' I get so tired of just blue and pink. l siring to give my patrons the very best possible service along plumbing • "! lines, I have gone to no little expense in purchasing, rebuilding and Geneiveve-Josephine is going to wear J her organdy, too. The make her • equipping a I look shorter. (Model 18) And Sue is go­ ing to wear her graduation dress (Model !l PLUMBING SERVICE CAR I 19) On this car is carried a full line of the ordinary repairs. We mean to H elenr-The Seniors surely did look I! I wonderful. I like white best myself but eliminate as nearly as possible the old chronic complaint against I it was pretty to have some of the girls ! plumbers, viz., · I wear colored organdys for graduation. l "That they never have the right tool" J (Models 20, 21 and 22) Gen evieve-Helen did you really make I Indeed it is a fact that from 25% to 75% of the price of small jobs • that silk dress you wore last Sunday? i (say from $1 to $5) is for time spent by high priced mechanics in get- r (Model 23) : ting ready to do a very small job. f H elen-Yes. "Simplicity is the key­ l . note," as Miss Smith says. j A slightly higher price per hour will have to be charged for this service I Gen eviev e-Going back to allowances. : to cover the extra expense, but the total will be less to you, for l Katherine, what did you say your father allows wou for your clothes? ~ WE COME PREPARED! ., Katherine-$135.00, that is, $11.25 a ~~ Phone your order to the office, explaining as nearly as you can what . month. you need, and our service man and service car will be at your disposal. Gen evieve-Do you have to get shoes, and everything? Katherine-Yes. W. G. Madison Plumbing Co. J Ada-I do it and it really works. Come Il . over and I will show you my budget Masonic Temple Building book. i I Gen eviev e-! am going home and per­ • AMES, J suade the folks to put me on an allow· ! Phones: Office 1001, Res. 1002 lOW A j ance. It wil make it so much easier for l . me when I go to college. -Curtain- 1-·-·---·-·-·-·-·---·--·---· ...... l